Kids' Pop Culture Today

By Z(Aasiyah/Nolwynn)

It all started 2 weeks ago, when we went shopping for school supplies (yeah, school starts in January here). Kiddo wanted a schoolbag with wheels, you know, those spiffy luggage-like bags. Hubby and I were like, as long as it doesn't break the bank we'll get it for you. We get to the bags section at the shop - and there they were, the good-looking, mini-business-class-looking bags on wheels. And as it's kids' bags, there's got to be some cartoon designs on it. There were 3 Spiderman ones, and one Ben 10 bag. Kiddo goes, I want Ben 10. Check the price - it's good. (Didn't get that exact pic but this one gives you a pretty good idea).

Next up were the school supplies - notebooks, pencil case and yada yada. In the section we check, everything's got a design on it, from Ben 10 to Hannah Montana to High School Musical.

Didn't pay it much attention... Until the day school started and what a sight for the eyes - every little boy has a Ben 10 bag, and every girl has a Hannah Montana one. Some of the less-gender conscious had, surprise, High School Musical images!

If that weren't proof enough that something is up (marketing, kids pop culture, craze-of-the-moment), we attend a birthday party for my cousin's daughter last weekend, and of course there are the Disney Princesses pics everywhere, even on the birthday candles! When it's time to leave, kiddo was one of the 3 boys in a gaggle of girls' party, here come the goody bags. And guess who I found on the goodies? Yup, that's right -Ben Tennyson of the alien fame!

And now on to the really scary bit - I'm a jeans and top gal, and there I was the other day at my mom's place. My 3.5 year old niece was there, and when she saw me, she exclaimed: Tee (she never said Auntie, only Tee when she started to talk and the name's stuck! Even her younger sister who's 2.5 calls me Tee). Anywayz, she goes: Tee, you look just like Hannah Montana!

Huh? What? Say that again?? You mean I'm dressed a decade younger than what I should look like? Wait, I'm not even thirty yet, for God's sake! And then came the real question - Hannah (that's her name too, btw, my niece), sweetie, you know Hannah Montana? (at your age, I didn't add). Of course she does, and there she breaks into some song I know nothing about but which she assures me is a Hannah Montana song.

Bear with me, yes, I am getting to something! It struck me as strange that all kids today, irrespective of their age, know these characters. Ben 10 for boys, Hannah Montana for girls and High School Musical for both genders.

And, uh, is it just me or are these shows a little a) violent b) grown-up c) well, even more grown-up respectively?

In my days at ages 3.5 and 7 (as the kids in my entourage are aged), we'd get really sweet and harmless stuff like My Little Pony and yeah, the classic - Barbie!! Boys had Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and even though that was action-packed, it wasn't exactly as violent as Ben 10. I mean, some of those aliens in there give me nightmares!

And then you move from Ben 10 where Ben is a happy-go-lucky ten-year-old to Ben 10 Alien Force - where's he's now a teenager, Gwen is grown-up too and so is Kevin (and he's a hunk, btw! Oops, can see myself slipping down the Mom-thinks-of-cradle-robbing path here!). So yeah too - Gwen and Kevin are 'together'. Hannah Montana's concerns despite the hidden identity thing is that, well, she's a teen and gasp, boys are cute! High School Musical - well, there was the love story between Troy and Gabriella but it wasn't overly in your face. Though in that respect, where the movie is concerned, I turn to my 12.5 year old niece and all she does is *Zac Efron/Robert Pattinson= squeal and hysterical shaking*. Yeah, I know - scares me too... Oh well, seeing these pics I can understand... (especially when you imagine Pattinson with some bronzer or self-tanner on!)

My point today being - what is it with the pop culture that's geared for kids today? Kids are no longer kids, are they? Case in point - Hannah (3.5 years old) wants to wear jeans and tops like Tee and like Hannah Montana. When I ask, what about Barbie (innocent and sweet doll)? She gives me a blank look!

Fashion, movies, TV stuff, books - everything is trying to convert our kids to one particular brand/image. You cannot escape, unless maybe if you lived on Pandora (that needs 5 years in cryo to get there!). In the meantime, what do us parents do? Well, apart from reminiscing on our sweet innocent days, we try to keep them from growing up too fast.

But pop culture seems to be saying - fast is not fast enough!

Does someone else 'get' what my rambles are about today? Are we moving too fast with our time, or am I simply an ageing mom clinging on to 'her' ideal of innocence through nostalgia?

Speaking of kids and how they turn our lives upside down, come check out my latest book, Storms in a Shot Glass, where a little bump is about to create a lot of ripples...

PA Jane Smithers needs a baby as much as she needs the immature boss, bitchy mother and lunatic Russian models cohabiting peacelessly around her. What she also doesn’t need is a man who pops out of nowhere, intent on taking over her accidental pregnancy.

Cold logic and hard facts rule the world of millionaire corporate lawyer Michael Rinaldi. Until he meets Jane, and the insignificant-looking woman plunges him head first into the churning waters of tempestuous emotion and hot-blooded impulse.

Unlikely feelings crop up at the same time relentless gossip escalates. Both realize their respective world has irredeemably changed. The question is - will they be able to live with this reality?

From now till later, cheers!

And don't forget:

Live. Laugh. Love. XOXO